James M. Dorsey
ARTICLES BY: James M. Dorsey
With Iran-Saudi Deal, China Makes Mideast Inroads and the UAE Takes Action
A Chinese-mediated Saudi-Iranian reconciliation potentially casts a spotlight on fundamentally flawed security policies of regional powers, including not only Saudi Arabia and Iran, but also...
Arab States and Russia Want to Rehabilitate Syria, Despite Bloody War
A push by Arab allies of the United States to bring Syria in from the cold highlights the limits of a Chinese-mediated rapprochement between the...
Saudi-Iranian Détente Could Spark Paradigm Shifts
Chinese mediation between Saudi Arabia and Iran potentially signals paradigm shifts in Middle Eastern diplomacy and alliances. Sources also say that Bahrain, the Shiite-majority Gulf state...
As Ramadan Approaches, Debates About Islamic Reform Continue
Reform of Islamic jurisprudence was the elephant in the room when two prominent Saudi clerics clashed publicly about whether apostasy was punishable with death under...
Iran Ramps Up Its Conflict with Saudi Arabia
If there is one place Saudi Arabia was happy to be low on the totem pole, it was Iran. Those days are over. Strategic thinkers...
How US Security Cooperation Can Help Defeat China in the Arab Gulf
If played well, security is the United States' trump card in stabilizing relations with its Gulf partners and competing with China for regional influence. In a...
Saudi Sports Bids Are Unlikely to Lead to Meaningful Change
Even before it officially launched, Saudi Arabia's bid to host the 2030 World Cup is on thin ice. The bid suggests that Crown Prince Mohammed bin...
The UAE Is Playing Both Sides in Israel and the US; But That Has Limits
The United Arab Emirates has mastered playing both sides against the middle. In the game’s latest iteration, the Gulf state earned significant brownie points in Washington...
Who Are the Genuine Muslim Moderates?
If you think Islamic scholars discussing the religious legitimacy of the United Nations and the nation-state will put you to sleep, think again. A call by...
Protests in Iran: A Middle Eastern Déjà Vu
A recent survey of Iranian public opinion suggests that the lack of confidence in a Middle Eastern regime is starkest in Iran, although crisis-wracked Lebanon,...
Despite Saudi Competition, UAE Thrives as Middle East Business Hub
If real estate is anything to go by, Dubai is snubbing its nose at Saudi efforts to replace it as the Middle East's go-to business...
For the UAE and Others, It’s Business as Usual with Israel
For the United Arab Emirates, it’s business as usual as Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s newly formed government is generating controversy at home and abroad. The...
Challenging China: Turkey Walks a Fine Line on Repressed Uighurs
An official visit by Turkish officials to Xinjiang to assess the fate of Turkic Muslims in the troubled north-western Chinese province is a risky proposition...
Saudi Arabia Ups Its Mideast Sports Gamble
One-upmanship in Middle Eastern sports just went up a notch as superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will join state-owned Saudi football club Al Nassr FC for a...
